Percy liked to walk on the riverbanks in the mornings now, since the water kept him at peace, and suppressed what he considered to be negative emotions. The fishes and nymphs of the river stared at him as he walked, always. His thoughts wandered to his future. He considered Camp Jupiter his home, and he'd want to stay there, but he wanted to not be disrespected because of his ties to Neptune.
"And you will." Percy's eyes snapped up from his feet to see a tall, built merperson in front of him. "Perseus Jackson, father speaks highly of you and what he presumes to be your future." the man continued.
"Should I bow?" Percy whispered. The man laughed.
"No need, for we are family. I am Triton, son of Neptune and Salacia. I believe we are brothers." Triton said with a smile.
"Adoptive… brothers." Percy corrected, and the god's smile grew.
"Exactly. Hence why I am not blasting you to the moon right now. Father has sent me to train you in our ways, the Atlantean ways." Triton said. Percy's nerves grew. "You are nervous, boy. Tell me why." he demanded, and Percy swallowed his nerves.
"I am not too much of an extrovert, Triton. Powerful people scare me sometimes." Triton chuckled.
"You will learn to grow past that. You are merely a child, so much room for growth over the next years, before your destiny comes before you. These Romans," he gestured to the camp. "They think of our people as curses. They don't rely on the seas, They disgrace our father." Triton stepped forward, and put a heavy finger into Percy's thin chest. "You are to change that."
"How?" Percy gawked.
"If I told you, I'd ruin the surprise, and change the future. You'll figure out in time. Now, I have a gift." Triton held out his hand, and from the ground, a trident emerged. The most beautiful weapon Percy had ever seen, the middle prong shorter than the rest, the hilt wrapped with a leather Percy could tell was nothing regular. Triton offered it, and Percy took it. When he grabbed the weapon, he felt stronger, more confident. Percy always felt like swords were built for his hands, he was comfortable with them, but this took it to a whole other level. The trident fit perfectly. He swung it around, and it was balanced perfectly. He looked up at Triton, whose smirk told a story of pride. Triton quickly took a step back, and summoned his own trident.
"Fight me, brother." Triton challenged, and Percy frowned.
"I've never used this weapon before." Percy said quietly, and Triton growled.
"Your enemies on the battlefield won't wait for you to solve problems, Perseus. Fight me." Triton lunged forward, jabbing at Percy's midsection, who dodged and retaliated with 3 quick strikes to Triton's legs, before Triton span out, and kicked Percy back. Percy fell on his ass, and his frustration grew. He stood, charging Triton, who swung at head level, but Percy ducked, sliding below it, and tripping the god. Triton fell down, and Percy stood quickly, disarming him and pointing the three prongs into Triton's neck.
"Very well, Perseus." Triton said, and Percy removed the weapon from the god's neck, offering his hand to help him up. Triton took it, and rose above Percy.
"You fight well, for someone who has never used our weapon before." Triton said with a smile.
"Thank you, sir." Percy responded insecurely. Triton scoffed.
"Stop being so insecure and nervous, boy. It will do you no favors. Everyone here is in the same position, trying to climb to the mountaintops of glory." Triton said, looking at the camp. "You just have a higher mountain to climb." Percy nodded.
"And start working out, lifting weights. It will only help you, and maybe even attract that daughter of Bellona you called pretty." Percy blushed, his eyes glaring holes into his shoes. Triton laughed at Percy's response. "Grow out of this shell, Perseus. If you want to succeed, you need friends in high places." Triton said.
"I still don't understand how." Percy mumbled.
"You will, believe me. Now, meet with me here every day, at the crack of dawn. I will train you, and you will become the best swordfighter this camp has ever seen." Percy looked up at the god with teary eyes.
"I cannot thank you enough, brother." Percy said quietly.
"No need to thank me now. Just make the right choice."
"Wha-?" Percy started, but Triton disappeared in a cloud of misty seawater. Percy smirked. "I've gotta learn how to do that."
X
Jason noticed a change in Percy over the last 5-ish months at Camp. Percy started to wake up before everyone else and was actually putting muscle on that tall frame of his.
Most importantly, Percy was making friends. He'd turned the fifth cohort from being weary about the son of Neptune into basically his best friends. Frank and Hazel, the two people they met at the Caldecott, were always talking and hanging around Percy. Jason, Percy and Reyna had become an inseparable trio, eating, sparring and practicing with one another, all day. He'd even gained some respect from kids in the second cohort. Not the first, however. The first continued to jar and heckle him whenever they could. Jason didn't understand it- mocking someone for their lineage. One stood out from the rest in the first, Octavian, a five-nine, skinny blonde boy. Jason was told he was the legacy of Apollo, and the Legion's next augur. Octavian had taken a disliking towards Percy's ties to Neptune and his irregularly fast acceptance into the legion. Most kids had to wait nearly a year to get their SPQR tattoo, but Percy and Jason got theirs instantly. Octavian led a group of like fifteen kids in the first cohort who constantly bullied Percy whenever they got the chance. Jason knew Percy could stand up for himself, but never chose to. Jason wondered why.
X
Reyna started to get worried. Percy had been in Neptune's temple for over forty-five minutes now. No noise, no warning, no check-in, nothing. He'd walked with her to the temples and told her he'd be out in five but was now just staying in there.
"What are you doing outside of the temple of that disgraced god, Reyna?" Her eyes turned to her right and her centurion stood.
Octavian approached her slowly, and Reyna's face tightened. She didn't like the guy. He was creepy, always making his superior position known to others. He and his lackeys always flirted with some of the older girls in the legion as well.
"Percy is in there. Told me he'd be out in five, that was fifty minutes ago." She said nonchalantly. Octavian laughed.
"Neptune spawn, as unreliable and untrustworthy as ever. Such a disappointment, that you befriended that boy. Such an embarrassment of an Olympian, compared to your mother, a respectable and worthy goddess." Octavian said, getting awkwardly close to Reyna. She took a step back.
"Flattery gets you nowhere when you're insulting my friend side-by-side with it. Go somewhere else, Octavian." Reyna said, and the door to the temple opened. Out stepped Percy, with a smile on his face. He saw Reyna and Octavian, and instantly got embarrassed, fiddling with the bracelet on his right wrist.
"Sea spawn, how wonderful for you to join us." Octavian started. "Glad you found your father's temple. Or hut, because temple doesn't really fit it." The cruel smile on Octavian's face grew. Percy's fists clenched. "After all, your disgrace of a father gave birth to that outlaw of a human who destroyed our last camp." Thunder clapped above, and the clouds moved further in.
"Percy." Reyna said, but he didn't listen. The rage in his eyes was evident, and the winds picked up.
"Percy!" a voice called behind them. Jason ran up the hill. "Calm down dude!" he yelled, but it was no use.
"You want the power of the sea god? I'll give it to you." Percy growled, and the ground shook below them. Octavian stumbled, falling on his butt, but Reyna and Jason managed to stand their ground.
"Perseus." A voice boomed, and a woman approached from behind Octavian. Reyna was clueless until she saw the eyes. Everything around them stopped, and the weather returned to the way it was before. Percy fell to a kneel.
"I'm sorry, Lady Lupa." Percy whispered.
"Legacy of Apollo, do you realize the mistake you've made? To insult an Olympian god of Neptune's power, not only in front of his temple, but his only demigod son?" Lupa growled, and Octavian shrank back.
"Lady Lupa, I swear I di-"
"Silence!" she whipped back at the boy, and Reyna swears Octavian whimpered. "You take me for a fool, don't you?" Octavian shook his head vigorously. "The temples are conduits to the gods. You spoke not only before Perseus, but before all of the gods. Neptune heard you, Jupiter heard you. Bellona heard you. The only reason you are not dead right now is because Neptune see fit that you and Percy are to duel in the Coliseum tomorrow." Octavian stood once more.
"But Lady Lupa, as an Augur I must remain healthy! It is only right I am given the right to select a champion to represent me!" He complained.
"You dare challenge the commands of Olympus, boy?" Lupa's voice rose, and Octavian shrunk again.
"No!" he squeaked.
"Then it is fit. You two are to duel tomorrow at the Coliseum. Mercury is informing the Legion and the Praetors. I look forward to the event, Legacy." Lupa spat, before disappearing. Octavian's eyes shot to Percy, who donned a maniacal grin.
"I look forward to our battle, Octavian. The first is the best the Legion has to offer, and you are their centurion, therefore, I am expecting a challenge." Percy walked to the legacy of Apollo. Percy's hand rose, and Octavian flinched. Percy merely dragged his finger along Octavian's jawline. "I haven't had the opportunity to spar anyone of such high ranking, so I am looking forward to the opportunity." Percy whirled around, and walked away.
"Oh, and Octavian." Percy's head turned over his shoulder. "It'd be a shame if you embarrassed the entire first cohort." From Neptune's temple, water blasted out of the door, drenching the Centurion. Jason followed behind Percy as they walked off, and Reyna stared at her Centurion.
"You're going to bring shame to the pride of the First, Centurion." She spat, before following Jason.
X
The Coliseum was full of legionnaires. Jason couldn't tell if it was because they wanted to see Percy fight, or Octavian lose. He decided on both. While Percy held little to no respect in the Legion, most people did fear him as a soldier. They'd seen his work versus the Chimera and the Minotaur, and they'd learned that the son of Neptune was no slack with a sword. When the gates opened, Percy strolled out confidently wearing street clothes, much to the amusement of the crowd. Jason overheard some comments thrown to him about needing armor against the centurion of the first, but clearly that person had never met Octavian. Speaking of the soon-to-be augur, he donned typical Roman armor, scaled metal plates lining the breastplate, and a pallium following behind him. Roars erupted from the crowd at the appearance of the centurion, this crowd loved Octavian. A booming stomping came from the Praetor's box above the arena and stood Mars Ultor.
"Demigods!" he boomed, and the arena silenced. "Today, we are here to spectate a sanctioned duel between Octavian, legacy of Apollo, Centurion of the First, and the Legion's next augur!" the cheers came back from the crowd. "Fighting against him, legionnaire Perseus Jackson, Son of Neptune, member of the fifth!" The fifth and some of the fourth cheered, but mostly boos came from the legion.
"This is a fight to yield, not to death! Magical weapons and powers are allowed! Fight!" Mars finished, flashing out. The crowd cried in happiness that it had started. Percy stood still, his oversized t-shirt blowing in the wind, and Octavian charged. Octavian swung downwards, and Percy ducked under it, tripping the centurion, and kneeing him in the ribs.
"He's going to take his time." Reyna whispered, and Jason nodded.
"C'mon Percy." Jason growled.
X
Percy read Octavian's movements like a book, but he didn't want to rush the victory. Percy wanted to trickle out every ounce of pleasure and joy he could get from this beating he was going to deliver. Octavian swung for Percy's ribs, which Percy ducked under, and uppercutted the Centurion to the ground.
"Stand up." Percy said, without a care in the world.
"Please…" the centurion pleaded. Percy laughed.
"You think you can do whatever you want and face no punishment for it? Everything has repercussions, Centurion." Percy spat the last word. Octavian scrambled to his feet, praying to whatever god that would help him to stop the demigod. Percy advanced, and Octavian was shaking when he raised his sword. Octavian screamed, and swung wildly many times at Percy, who perfectly parried and dodged them all. Percy punched Octavian in the ribs, who fell back, but Percy dropped his sword, catching Octavian's chestpiece and throwing blows into Octavian's nose.
"Perseus! The fight is over." Julia warned, and Percy scowled. He punched Octavian one last time before dropping the legacy. He turned to the first, growling.
"Your centurion fights like a Graceus." His voice was loud & clear, but nobody from the first dared to respond, even those who usually took it upon themselves to bully the son of Neptune. Legionnaires soon ran from the gates to escort Percy out of the Coliseum. Jason looked to Reyna, whose eyes were wide.
"Do you…" Jason lead off, and Reyna nodded, running out.
X
She found him where they met first, the banks of the river Tiber.
"The first won't just let go of that, you know." Reyna started, and Percy sighed, knowing who it was by her voice.
"I know. I just-" he breathed out, "there was so much anger, so much rage. I felt so much hatred for his insults to Neptune." Reyna nodded, sitting next to him.
"I don't know that feeling- having that much love for your parent." Reyna said, and Percy frowned. "Bellona has always been distant from me. Seems like Neptune has been a role model parent for you, though." Reyna smiled.
"Reyna, I have to tell you this, and you can't tell anyone else." Percy said, and Reyna tilted her head. "Neptune's not my father."
Her breath hitched. "What do you mean?"
"Nobody knows who my dad is, just that he's a god. Neptune was the one who showed up first at camp Jupiter and claimed me, which is why I am so motivated to protect his name, his house. I feel like I owe my life to him." Percy finished.
"Nobody knows? Not even Olympus?"
"Lupa said that they looked for him, they checked my heritage, and there is no sign of any known god, just that I have power greater than a demigod of the big three, and room to grow. My father did however, give me these." He showed off the two bracelets on each wrist. "I don't know what they do, just that I can't take them off. I've asked everyone." He looked up into her eyes.
"Can I-?" she whispered, and he nodded. Her hands went to his left wrist, and started to pry at the bracelets. To no surprise, they remained on his wrists. He let out a sad sigh, and Reyna wrapped her arm around him.
"Do you have any idea how they work?" she asked, and he shook his head.
"My mom put them on my when I was little, saying that they're from my father, but never said anything about their purpose." He finished, and they sat in silence. Reyna enjoyed it- his company. She wasn't sure of his feelings towards her, but she was confident she felt something for the son of, or, blessed of Neptune.
"Do you talk to your mother?" Reyna asked quietly, and Percy's eyes got even more sad, depressing.
"I haven't since she brought me here and left me in the woods. That was over a year ago. I don't know how to contact her, or if she's even alive." Percy said, tears forming in his eyes.
"My father wasn't much better." Reyna started, "Abusive, cursed our mother at every opportunity. Never let me or my sister live our lives."
A branch snapped behind them, and Percy stood, whirling around. Reyna looked up at him, and he was wielding a trident.
"Reveal yourselves." Percy growled.
"Chill, dude." Jason emerged from the trees. Percy instantly relaxed, and the trident disappeared. "The Praetors are asking for your presence in the Senate house immediately, Percy."
Percy frowned, "Why would they want me?"
"No idea. Something about a quest, I believe." Percy's eyebrows shot up. A chance to prove himself, cement himself as worthy. He smirked.
"Lead the way."
X
The senate house was nicer on the inside than on the outside, much to Percy's surprise. He was expecting something not as professional, seeing as it was a camp run by people who were at maximum, twenty-three. Percy and Reyna sat next to Jason in one of the furthest back rows, with senators and lars alike shooting Percy dirty looks. Others looked sympathetically, but nobody dared to say anything. Percy assumed they all wanted to be on Jason's good side.
"Now that the legionnaires have joined us, we must discuss the problem at hand." Julia rose, walking to a map that was pinned up on a blackboard. "A monster army rises in the North. We assume they plan to attack the city, as opposed to the Via Principalis, and we believe that if we plan correctly, the Legion can meet the force at full strength in the field of Mars." Julia finished, and Percy frowned. What does this have to do with him?
"We do not know who it is led by, but we can assume it is a god, or a Titan." Reyna's heart dropped. A Titan? "So we are appointing one of our most promising legionnaires, Perseus Jackson of the Fifth Cohort, son of Neptune to execute a scouting mission on the army." Julia's smile grew into something sinister, something evil. The other praetor, Derek, a son of Mars, rose by his partner's side.
"We believe Perseus Jackson the most fit for this mission, as he has proven himself to be incredibly adequate and capable with weaponry, and a smart, skilled legionnaire." He turned to Percy, "Now, I give you the floor. You may select two other legionnaires to accompany you on this mission." Percy rose.
"May I select Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano, as well as Jason Grace?" Percy asked.
"You may take Arellano, but Grace is to complete his own quest, to Fort Sumter, where a stash of Imperial Gold is rumored to be hidden." Percy nodded.
"I request for Frank Zhang to come." Julia almost let out a gasp.
"You realize Zhang is a probatio, correct?" Percy nodded.
"All too well."
"So be it. You shall take Arellano and Zhang with you on this mission. We will brief you in more detail later, but for now, go inform Zhang of your decision." Percy nodded. He walked out of the senate meeting, Reyna closely behind.
"You know you didn't have to do that, right?" she whispered, and Percy laughed.
"Of course, but I wanted to."
"Why though? There's infinitely more capable people in this camp." Reyna questioned, and Percy rolled his eyes.
"Reyna, I'm a son of Neptune. I can't exactly walk up to the greatest soldier in this camp and offer them to join me on my first quest. I'd probably get beat to pulp before I even get a response."
this is abit longer, meant to be 2 chapters but I fucked it up a bit. sorry. will keep going 3